On November 22, 2008 I was scheduled to teach a class for the Love Apple Quilters workshop.  It was going to be a memory/scrapbook quilt class and “Elsie” was my sample.  Elsie was a great lady who passed away in July 2007.   The quilt became a work of inspiration that incorporated a small purse that belonged to Elsie.  Inside the purse held some of the handworked tatting that she used to do.  I made the quilt for my friend to help ease her pain at the loss of her close friend.

I was really disappointed when the workshop class was cancelled.  It seemed only 2 people had signed up but 1 of them dropped out.   So the official decision was made to cancel it.  I decided to still participate in the workshop anyway in the UFO room (Unfinished Object – where we can finish the ever increasing pile of things that are not completed).   I decided not to take “Ginny” my memory quilt that had been in process to be used as an additional idea for making a memory/scrapbook quilt.  This quilt will be made in memory of a dear friend who passed away in December 2007.  Now that I didn’t have a deadline I can wait to gather more of my memories of Ginny to add to the quilt.

So I worked on my turtle quilt.  Machine curved piecing.  A top semi-completed from a workshop taught by Carole (you remember Carole from my curly willow tales) at a previous LAQ workshop.  The fabric was purchased at the LAQ Quilt Show 2007.  The bundle of fabric showed a beautiful hand dyed turtle print and there were 3 yards included.  What I did not know at the time was that only the outside layer of this bundle was the turtle print.  Other green hand dyed pieces made up the rest.  So I added the yellow to set off the colors and took it to the workshop.  So instead of taking “Ginny” I brought my turtle pieces to the UFO at this past workshop.  The top of ”Turtle Adventures” is now finished.  The left over pieces were used to create the back.  It sort of resembles the workshop samples that Carole showed us but only slightly.  I enjoyed the curvied machine piecing technique but then found it challenging to make the most of the little turtle fabric that was left so that you just knew they were turtles.   “Turtle Adventures” will be finished and included in the Love Apple Quilters “Spring Into Quilting” Show coming up in March 2009.    “Elsie” will also be on display but if anyone asks me to teach a workshop on it I might just scream!!!!!

Still had some pieces left over after making the front and the back so I kept on stitching and put the scraps together into this random crazy little table runner.  Told you I can throw anything away!

Here is a little thought for the day:  ”Greed grabs, Gratitude receives”   I know that “Elsie” was received with gratitude and that makes all the difference in the world.  She has been returned to my friend who will cherish the memory of a lady who made a huge difference to those around her.

Thanks for reading my tale!  

8/14/09 – It seems that I never followed up and posted a picture of the “finished”  Pinwheel Turtle Quilt.  It came out awesome.  Kathleen Johnson, a friend and professional quilter friend at Love Apple Quilters, did the machine quilting for me.   In the picture the quilt is being displayed at the Kirby’s Mill Quilt Show this past June.  Trust me – my quilts do NOT get the white glove treatment at home.